Collapsible storage/transport box with removable cover

ABSTRACT

A transport/storage box has a floor having side and end edges and side and end walls having lower edges hinged on the side and end edges of the floor and upper edges. The walls are movable between down positions lying atop one another on the floor and up positions projecting upward from the respective floor edges. An annular frame is fittable in the up positions with the upper edges of the side and end walls with the upper edges bearing outward on the frame. A cover sits atop the frame. Latch elements engageable from above downwardly through the cover and frame with the upper edges of walls anchor the cover and frame to the walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a box for storage or transport. More particularly this invention concerns such a box that can be collapsed and that has a separate removable cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical storage/transport box has a rectangular floor with long side edges bridged by short end edges, although a perfectly square shape is possible. Side and end walls have lower edges hinged on the side and end edges and can be moved between down positions extending horizontally and up positions projecting vertically upward from the respective edges. The hinge axes are offset so that the walls can lie flatly atop each other when down.

As described in EP 1,418,130 (U.S. patent publication 2004/0084447) upper edges of the side and end walls are connected to a rectangular top frame that in turn is fitted with a one- or two-part cover or lid. The cover has an annular rib with cutouts in which straps for closing the box and holding down the cover fit. Pins are formed on the upper edges of the side and/or end walls that fit in respective seats in the cover frame. These pins extend past shoulders of the frame. In addition to these pins the end walls each have an outwardly projecting element with a vertically throughgoing hole that aligns with a similar hole in the frame. Furthermore the cover is formed with pockets in which hooks at the upper ends of the pins engage so that the pins are locked in place when the cover is fitted to the frame.

Such a structure is fairly complex with regard to latching the erected walls in position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved transport/storage box.

Another object is the provision of such an improved transport/storage box that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that is simple in construction and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A transport/storage box has according to the invention a floor having side and end edges and side and end walls having lower edges hinged on the side and end edges of the floor and upper edges. The walls are movable between down positions lying atop one another on the floor and up positions projecting upward from the respective floor edges. An annular frame is fittable in the up positions with the upper edges of the side and end walls with the upper edges bearing outward on the frame. A cover sits atop the frame. Latch elements engageable from above downwardly through the cover and frame with the upper edges of walls anchor the cover and frame to the walls.

The latch elements therefore secure the cover, frame, and side walls together into a rigid assembly. Presuming the box in the collapsed condition with the side and end walls down and the frame, which can be hinged to the cover, separate, the box is readied for use by erecting the side and end walls to the up position and then fitting the frame in place over their upper edges. At this point the box can be filled. The cover is then closed or fitted to the frame and the latch elements are engaged to secure the entire assembly together.

The frame is formed with throughgoing holes and the latch elements include upper elements engageable downward through the holes and lower elements on the upper edges below the holes latchingly engageable with the respective upper elements. These upper elements can be formed on the cover and constituted as hooks that engage down through the holes with the lower elements. When the cover is formed by two panels hinged on side members of the one-piece frame, there are two such latch holes in the frame on each of the end edges. When the cover is of one piece and separate from the frame, there can be one or more such latch holes on each member of the frame.

According to the invention the upper elements are slides shiftable on the cover between holding positions latchingly engaging the respective lower elements and freeing positions clear of the respective lower elements. These lower elements define horizontally open seats and each slide has a hook engaging in the holding position in the respective seat.

The slides are captured in the cover. They therefore are not separate parts.

The slides, cover, frame, and wall upper edge are formed with security holes that are aligned in the holding positions. A security seal, e.g. a tape or plug, is engageable through the security holes for arresting the slides in the holding positions. Such a seal therefore not only prevents inadvertent opening of the box, but provides a good tamper indication when it must be cut to be removed.

The frame according to the invention is annularly continuous and formed of one piece. It is of L-section with an upright outer flange against which the upper edges of the side and end walls bear when the box is erected and a horizontal upper flange formed with the latch and security holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box according to the invention without its cover;

FIG. 2 is a large-scale side view of a portion of an end wall of a box according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 2.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1 a box 1 according to the invention has a generally planar and normally horizontal rectangular floor 2 on whose end and longitudinal edges 8 are hinges 6 and 7 carrying end and side walls 3 and 4. The side walls 4 are each formed of two panels 4 a and 4 b secured together at a central hinge 9. A rectangular annular frame 5, here formed of an injection-molded plastic like the floor 2 and walls 3 and 4, sits on the end and side walls 3 and 4 shown here in the up or erected positions. This frame 5 is of L-section, with a vertical outer side flange and a horizontal top flange. In the erect position, the upper edges of the end and side walls 3 and 4 bear outward on the vertical outer flange of the frame 5.

According to the invention the top flange of the frame 5 is formed along the upper edge of each end wall 3 with two rectangular throughgoing holes 10. The end walls 3 in turn are unitarily formed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 underneath each of these holes 10 with an upwardly open pocket 12 in which a latch element 18 forms a horizontally open seat or cavity 11. A cover formed here by two panels 13 hinged at their outer edges in a manner that is not illustrated on the side members of the frame 5 above the upper edges of the side walls 4 has reinforcing ribs 14 that project downward within the frame 5.

At each of the holes 10 the cover 13 is provided with a latch slide 15 that is captured in guide slots 21 of the cover 13 and limitedly shiftable parallel to the end walls 3. This slide 15 is provided with a downwardly extending latch element 17 having a hook 16 that can engage downward into the pocket 12 and be slid into the seat 11 of the respective end-wall latch element 18 so as to lock the cover 13 down on the frame 5 and the frame 5 down on the upper edges of the end walls 3. When in the latched position, that is with the hooks 16 engaged in the seats 11, holes 20 on the latch slide 15, cover 13, and frame 5 are aligned so that a security seal 19 can be fitted through them. 

1. A transport/storage box comprising: a floor having side and end edges; side and end walls having lower edges hinged on the side and end edges of the floor and upper edges, the walls being movable between down positions lying atop one another on the floor and up positions projecting upward from the respective floor edges; an annular frame fittable in the up positions with the upper edges of the side and end walls with the upper edges bearing outward on the frame; a cover atop the frame; and means including latch elements engageable from above downwardly through the cover and frame with the upper edges of walls for anchoring the cover and frame to the walls.
 2. The transport/storage box defined in claim 1 wherein the frame is formed with throughgoing holes and the latch elements include upper elements engageable downward through the holes and lower elements on the upper edges below the holes latchingly engageable with the respective upper elements.
 3. The transport/storage box defined in claim 2 wherein the upper elements are slides shiftable on the cover between holding positions latchingly engaging the respective lower elements and freeing positions clear of the respective lower elements.
 4. The transport/storage box defined in claim 3 wherein each lower element defines a horizontally open seat and each slide has a hook engaging in the holding position in the seat.
 5. The transport/storage box defined in claim 3 wherein the slides are captured in the cover.
 6. The transport/storage box defined in claim 3 wherein the slides, cover, frame, and wall upper edge are formed with security holes that are aligned in the holding positions, the box further comprising a security seal engageable through the security holes for arresting the slides in the holding positions.
 7. The transport/storage box defined in claim 1 wherein the frame is annularly continuous and formed of one piece. 